Waters nanoACQUITY UPLC, Quick Start Manual

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1-6 System Overview
nanoACQUITY binary solvent manager
The nanoACQUITY binary solvent manager is a high-pressure pump that
moves solvent through the system. It provides steady (pulse-free) solvent flow
at flow rates ranging from 0.20 to 5.00
µ
L/min (under closed loop control) or to
100.0
µ
L/min (under open loop control) at 69,000 kPa (690 bar, 10,000 psi).
The solvent manager can generate high-pressure gradients with minimal
gradient delay.
How the binary solvent manager works
Each of the solvent manager’s two independent pump systems, pump A (left)
and pump B (right), contains two linear-drive actuators. Each left and right
actuator pair comprises a single reciprocating serial pump that delivers
precise flow of a single solvent. The two pump systems combine their two
solvents at a mixing tee. From there, the solvent mixture flows to the sample
manager.
To create gradients and mixtures, the chromatography software controls the
two solvents’ mixing ratio by varying the flow of pump A relative to that of
pump B. A pressure transducer in each pump head relays pressure data to the
solvent manager, whose firmware measures pump head pressures during the
pumping cycle. Thus the solvent manager adjusts the precompression to
ensure consistent solvent delivery and minimize pump-induced detector
baseline disturbances.
Flow control modules
The flow control modules allow the binary solvent manager to perform
nano-flow chromatography by monitoring the solvent flow in each solvent
channel. Flow control is calibrated for water, acetonitrile, and methanol.
The flow control modules’ two mass flow sensors measure the flow from each
pump separately, before they are mixed. The binary solvent manager monitors
the output and adjusts the solvent flow accordingly for precise flow from 0.20
to 5.00
µ
L/min. Solvents are mixed in the flow control module tee outlet.